Pump seal



April 10,'41945. R R. CUR-ns PUMP SEAL Filed May 22( 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 um@ 212.2 N\ Q QW N Imm. m,

April 1o, 1945. I R. R; CURTIS 2,373,463

PUMP SEAL Filed May 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l embracing the driven seal ring in sealing rela- 'tic material.

' the driven seal (ring thereby preventing axial "l Patented pr. "10,- A1,945

Russell R. Curtis, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Curtis Pump Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 22, 1943, ser1alNo.4ss,oz 1

' (el. 2st-11) 11 Claims.

- This invention relates to seals for relatively rof tating members and particularly to seals having. flexible diaphragm sleeves connecting a seal ring in sealing relation with one of the members while allowing relative movement between the seal'ring and this member.

In accordance with this invention, a rotatingr member drives a seal ring in sliding face contact with a cooperating seal ring. The driven seal ring is connected in sealing relation to the rotating member through a sleeve having a reduced diameter neck orcollar portion snugly engaging the rotating member in sealing relation therewith, an enlarged mouth or collar portion snugly tion therewith, and a flexible flange or shoulder` [connecting said portions and acting as a. diaphragm. The entire sleeve is in one piece and preferably composed of rubber or` similar plas- A metal cup preferably surrounds; the enlarged mouth portion of the sleeveand a. spring acts on this cup to urge the driven seal .ring against the cooperating stationary sealY ring.

The sleeve can be flexed at its shoulder or flange portion to permit relative movement between the driven seal ring and the rotating member.

In ai preferred embodiment of the invention the enlarged mouth of the sleeve has an internal bead adapted to lbe seated in a groove provided in separation of the seal ring and sleeve.

In Aanother form of the invention the cup can be spun over a shoulder on the driven seal ring to clamp the mouth of the sleeve against this shoulder and thereby prevent axial displacement of the sleeve relative to the seal ring.

In the form of the invention utilizing the internal bead in the sleeve the cup need not be deformed over the seal ring and therefore can be readily mounted and removed.

A feature of the invention includes the beveling or chamfering of a portion of the driven seal ring adjacent the shoulder or flange of the sleeve so that this shoulder or nange'can have a wider range of flexing movement and so that diaeven though the sleeve sticks to the seal ring.

It is, then, an object of this invention to provide a simplified seal construction for relatively rotating members which includes a flexible diaphragm type sleeve connecting one of the members with a sea part while allowing movement between this member and the seal part.

A further object of the invention is to provide a diaphragm type seal construction for relatively rotating members wherein a flexible rubber sleeve permits movement of one of the members without moving the seal carried by this member.

A still further object is to provide a seal construction of the relatively rotating seal ring type wherein the rotating seal ring is sealinglyconnected to a rotating member through a rubber sleeve clamped on the member and embracing the seal ring.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a, readily assembled and disassmbled seal .construction including a seal ring, a stepped rub ber sleeve embracing said ring,v and a cup member surrounding said sleeve to hold the same on the seal ring.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a sleeve for seals having an inturned bead or lip for seating in a groove of a seal part to prevent 'axial displacement of the seal part and sleeve.

A further object of the invention is to provide l a shaft seal including a rubber sleeve clamped on the shaft, a rotating seal ring surrounding the shaft and receiving a portion of the rubber sleeve therearound,and a cup member embracing the portion of the sleeve surrounding the seal ring.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the phragm action of the sleeve will not be destroyed following detailed description of the annexed `sheets of drawings which, by Way of preferred examples only, illustrateseveral embodiments of the invention.

0n the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in vertical cross section of a vane type fuel pump having a seal construction according to this invention,

Figure 2 'is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, A`with parts in elevation, of the `seal construction land associated mechanism of the pump shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of rubber sleeve used in the seal construction of this invention illustrating various positions that can be assumed by the sleeve. l

Figure 4 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in vertical cross section of an electric motor driven `centrifugal type booster pump having a seal according to this invention. v

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken sub-` stantiallyalong the line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View similar to Figing the rubber sleeve shown in Figure 3, substituted for the sleeve shown in Figure 5.

-As shown on the drawing:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral I8 designates generally a fuel pump of the rotary vane type including a casing II housing the rotor of the pump (not shown). A'hollow shatter hub portion I2 extends from the rotor in the casing II and is rotatably supported in a bearing I8 mounted i'n the casing. A metal cup member` I4 is mounted in the casing and has the open end I4 thereof bottomed on the bearing I8. The cup member I8 has an apertured end I8 surrounding f the hollow shaft or hub I2 and providing a flat sealing face I1. A space I8 is thus provided between the cup I8 and shaft or hub I2.

A rubber oil seal ring I8 abuts the end of the hub or shaft I2 as shown and is covered with a thin thrust washer I8a.

- An end cap 28 is threaded to the casing. sur-L rounds the cup Il and abuts the washer- Isa. A resilient gasket 2I is positioned between the end cap and the bearing I8. The end cap is provided with a shoulder 22 for bottoming on the cup I4. Asecond resilient gasket 28 is positioned between the casing and an ,out-turned ange 28 on the end cap.

The end cap 28 is recessed as at 28 to receive the rubber ring I8 and has an aperture 28 therethrough to receive a driver 21 which projects into the hollow shaft I2 to drive the rotor. The driver can be splined to an engine part.

Since fuel may leak into the space I8 it is necessary to seal this space from the atmosphere. and for this purpose a seal ring 28 is provided on the shaft I2. This ring 28 has a face 28 for sliding face engagement with the face I1 oi the cup I4. The ring 28 is internally slotted as at 88 to receive the key head 8| of a snap ring 82 which ward from the outer end ofthe shoulder 88e and has an inturned head or lip 88e at the free end thereof.

As shown in Figure 3 the shoulder of the flange 88e is adapted to be ilexed so that the neck or collar portions 88a and 88d can be moved toward or away from each others i .The collar portion 88a as best shown in Fig-1 ure 2 snugly embraces the hub or shaft I2 and is held in sealed engagement therewith by means of e metal snap ring or-band 88 surrounding the collar between the flanges 88h and 88e of the sleeve. These flanges are effective to prevent the ring 88 from slipping o8 of the collar 88a.

The enlarged collar or mouth portion 88d embraces the seal ring 28 and the lip or bead 88e thereof is snugly seated in the groove 88 of the K seal ring.

The seal ring 28 is inwardly beveled or chamfered as at 81 so that at least a portion of the shoulder or flange 88e is normally spacedfrom the seal ring and can act as a diaphragm even .s,s7s,4es l l rubbersleeve is sufilciexitly deformable so that it` can be slipped over the seal ring to position its lip or bead in the groove of this ring.

A metal cup member 88 has a cylindrical skirt the seal ring 28 and holds the sleeve in sealed rel lation with the seal ring.

A conical coil spring 88 has the large end coil thereof surrounding the collar 88e of the cup 88 ring 28. 88

and bottomed on the shoulder 88h. The small end coil of the spring 88 surrounds and is bottomed on a washer or retainer I8 mounted on the shaft I2 and held in spaced relation from the bearingV I8 by means of a snap ring 4I seated in a groove provided in the shaft.

The spring 88 thus acts on the cup 88 to urge the rotating seal ring 28 into sliding' face engagement with the stationary seal ring surface provided by the face I'I of the cup I8.

The seal ring 28 of course is driven with the 'shaft I2 and the sleev 88 maintains the shaft I2 and seal ring 28 in sealing relation to prevent leakage from the space As illustrated in Figure 3, the collar portions 88a and 88d ofthe sleeve 88 can move relative to each other through flexing of the shoulder 88h and therefore the shaft I2 can move axially or tilt without unseating the seal ring 28 from face 0 face.

The flexible shoulder 88e of the sleeve 88 also l permits the full load of the spring 88 to be transmitted to the seal ring 28 independently of any physical changes which take place in the diaphragm such as may occur in variation of op'- erating. temperatures, in absorption of fuel and the like. The seal of this construction is very efiieient even at the low temperatures such as exist in high altitudes as when the `fuel pump I8 is used in an airfraft. The spacing of at least a portion of the shoulder 88e from the ring 28 by providing the bevel or recessed face 81 in the ring will insure maintenance of flexing-conditions for this shoulder even though the sleeve 'should freeze to or otherwise stick onto the ring.

The bevel or recess 81 also permits increased relative axial movement of the collar portions 88a and 88d as indicated in Figure 3, since the collar l can extend into the recess 81.

The seal construction is readily assembled and disassembled since the cup 88 need only have a snug sliding fit over the collar portion 88d of the though the sleeve should have portions thereof' sleeve. )It can thus be readily removed and assembled. The sleeve being preferably composed of rubber or other resilient material can be sii'retched over the seal ring 28 and over the shaft In the embodiment of Figure 4 the reference numeral '88 designates generally a centrifugal type fuel booster pump composed of a motor casing 8| housing an electric motor or other prime mover, and a pump casing 82. The pump casing 82 is secured to the motor casing 8| as by means of bolts or studs 88. The pump casing 82 deflnes a shaft well 88, a pumping chamber 88 and an I8 through the seal l agravios chamber 55. The shaft well 54 has .an inturned flange 50 formed therein through which the motor shaft 59 freely extends. A metal sleeve 6I is threaded into the shaft well beneath the impeller 59.

As best shown in Figure a stationary seal ring 52 is held on the inturned iiange or shoul-v der 69 of the well 54 by the sleeve 5| which thrusts against a bearing gasket and washer 92a seated in a groove around the ring 62. The

motor shaft 58 projects freely through this seal ring. The seal ring 52 has a flat top sealing face 63 cooperating with a'bottom sealing face 5| of a rotating seal ring 65. This rotating seal ring 65 also loosely embraces the -shaft 59 and a rubber sleeve 5B connects the shaft and seal ring in sealing relation. This rubber sleeve 55 has a reduced collar portion identical to the collar portion 35a described in Figures 1 to 3 embracing the shaft 58 and held thereon by means of a snap ring 61. A flexible shoulder portion 55a projects outwardlyfrom the collar portion on the shaft and an enlarged skirt portion 69h is provided on the end of the shoulder 66a. This skirt 65h embraces the rotating seal ring 65. The rotating seal ring 55 has a bevelled face 55a providing a shoulder adjacent the sealing face 64 thereof.V A metal cup member 59 surrounds the skirt portion 66h of the sleeve and has the end thereof spun inwardly as at 69a to clamp the end of the skirt portion 65h on the seal ring face 65a. The top face of the seal ring is beveled around the aperture therein as at 65h so that the rubber sleeve will always function as explained in connection with Figures 1 to 3.

The cup 69 has tangs 69h thereon seated in recesses 59h of the hub portion of the impeller 59 for driving the cup 69 with the impeller and shaft 59.

A coiled spring is held under compression between the impeller 59 and a. shoulder on the cup 69 for urging the seal ring 55 against the seal ring 62,

The shoulder or flange' 65a of thesleeve 66 can` flex toward and away from the ring 55 thereby permitting movement of the shaft 59 without un seating the ring 65 from cooperating sealing relation with the ring 62. In this embodiment, however, the cup 69 is not freely removable from the sleeve 55 inasmuch as its end 69a has been deformed. `The sleeve 66, however, need not be providedwith a lip in this installation.

In the embodiment of Figure 6 the seal for the booster pump 50 includes the same sleeve'35 described in connection with Figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment the rotating seal ring 65 has a groove 65o receiving theV bead or lip 35e of the sleeve. A cup member 1| drivingly connecting the impeller 59 and the sleeve rotating seal ring 65 is not deformedover the lend" of the sleeve as in Figure 5 since the lip 35e will hold the sleeve against axial displacement oif of the seal ring. As shown in Figure 6, the skirt or mouth end of the cup 1| embraces the sleeve 35 inthe same manner as in Figures 1 and 2. In the em-v bodiment of Figure 6, therefore, the cup 1i can be readily removed from and placed on the sleeve without deforming the same.

v ,r 3 From thedescriptions it willbe that this invention now provides a seal construction for relatively movable parts such as for pump ci. v

shafts and associated housing parts wherein a` rotating seal ring driven by the rotating part or shaft is maintained in sealed realtion with the rotating part .f .shaft through a flexible sleeve preferably composed of rubber. This nexible sleeve has a diaphragm portion or shoulder accommodating relative movement between the rotating seal ring and the rotating parts so that the parts can move in an axial direction or even tilt without disturbing the seal ring.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the rubber lsleeve has-an inturned lip adapted to be seated in a peripheral groove of the rotating seal ring to prevent axial removal of the sleeve from the seal ring. In another embodiment of the invention a cup member is spun inwardly at its free end to clamp the sleeve onto the rotating seal ring.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this inventionand it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fluid seal the combination with a rotatable shaft and a stationaryV seal ring, of a rotatable seal ring surrounding said shaft, a flexible sealing sleeve having a reduced diameter co1- lar portion embracing' the shaft in sealing., relation, an enlarged collar portion embracing the y rotating seal ring in sealing relation, and a flexible diaphragm portion between said collar portions, a metal cup surrounding said collar portions of the sleeve and having a shoulder portion extending over the diaphragm portion of the sleeve, and a spring acting on said shoulder portion of the cup to urge the rotatable seal ring into sliding face engagement with the stationary seal ring.

2. In a. pump construction including a casing, a bearing in said casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing, a. cup member in said casing having an open end bottomed on said bearing and an apertured end receiving said shaft therethrough, said apertured end of the cup having an end face providing a stationary seal ring, and a rotating seal ring slidably keyed on said 'shaft of a rubber sleeve having a reduced diameter collar portion at one end thereof snugly seated on said shaft, a larger diameter collar portion at the l other end thereof snugly seated on said rotating seal ring and aflexible diaphragm portion connecting said collar portions, a retainer having a skirt portion seated on the large'r diameter collar portion of the sleeve, a shoulder. portion overlying the outer marginal portion only of said diaphragm portion of the sleeve and a collar portion on the inner end of said shoulder portion projecting away from the skirt portion, spring abutment means on said shaft, and a coil spring surrounding vsaid shaft having one end thrusting against said abutment means and the other end seated on the collar portion of the retainer member' acting against the shoulder portion of the re-` tainer for urging the rotating seal ring against the stationary seal ring.

3. In a pump construction, a' stationary seal ring, a shaft projecting through said stationary sellaingarotatingsealringslidableon .said

, a rubber sleeve having a :mfaaidshaftalargediameter eollarportion snugly on rotaiing ,seal ring and hav- 'an inwardly projecting bead in said of the seal ring and a :dexible diaphragm l shoulder portion between said collar portions, a

retainer' having a portion seated on said larger diameter :collar lportion of the sleeve :and an inturned shoulder voverlying themarzinal portion only of said diaphragm fof the sleeve, and spring means acting on said shoulder portion lof the retainer to urge the rotating l ring against stationary seal ring.

4. .A construction for :a pump a part providing a stationalyseal ring :and a rotating shaft projecting through the seal ring, :a roseal ring slidably mounted on said shaft having :a recessed end face remote from the sealing face thereof, and a rubber sleeve having elongated collar portions at opposite -euds thereof respectlvely snugly engaging `.substantial portions of .said shaft and said rotating seal ring and a flexible diaphragm portion connecting said :col-

lar portions overlying said recessed end face of rotating seal ring and adapted to be flexed toward and away from the seal ring while maintaining the seal ring and shaft in sealed relaseated on substantial portions of the circumfer- 0 ential faces of said rotating seal ring land said shaft and a nexible diaphragm portion connecting said end portions :adapted to he moved toward and away from the rotating seal ring, and

a. retainer snugly embracing the portion of the l45 sleeve seated on the rotating .seal ring.

6. In a pump construction having a casing providing a shaft well, a shaft projecting througl'l said well and .an impeller on said shaft having a slotted hub, a stationary seal ring in .said well ren" oeiving said shaft therethrough, a rotating .seal ring in said well receiving said shaft therethrough and coacting with said stationary seal ring, a rubber sleeve having a reduced diameter collar seatedinsaidwellreoeivingsaidshaftthexethrough, the improvement of a rptaldng seal ring having' an end face in :sliding face engagement with said stationary seal ring-and an opposed end ameter `collar snugly seated on .said shaft, a larger diameter collar portion snugly seated on said rotating seal ring, and a .flexible diaphragm portion connecting :said collar portions, a snap ring sun-minding said reduced diameter collar 'portion'and locking said collar portion on the shaft, and a cup member lsurrounding said larger diameter collar portion for holding said portion .on the rotating seal ring, said 4'diaphragm portion :of the sleeve being movable 4toward and away from the beveled face of the rotating seal ring to permit relative axial movement of the rotating seal ring and shaft.

il. .A shaft seal comprising a :stationary seal member, a rotating seal member in sliding face engagement with the stationary seal member, a shaft extending freely through both members, a

rubber sleeve having :a reduced diameter portion snugly embracing said shaft, an enlarged cylindrical poriion snugly embracing the outer face of said rotating seal member and a hexible shoulder portion connecting said embracing portions, and 1a cup member surrounding said sleeve having an inturned flange clamping the enlarged cylindrical portion of the sleeve on the rotating seal ring.

9. A shaft seal comprising -a stationary seal ring; -a sleeve having spaced elongated collar p0rtions of different diameters and an intermediate `diaphragm portion; a rotatable shaft passed through said sleeve in sealed engagement with the smaller collar portion thereof; means clamping said collar portion in sealed relation to said shaft; ya. rotatable seal ring slidable longitudinally on said shaft for engagement with said stationary seal ring :and having peripheral sealed engage-- mentV with a substantial portion of the larger collar portion of the sleeve; a retainer cap embracing the larger collar portion on the rotatable seal ring to maintain said collar portion on said ring; a stop on said shaft exterior to said sleeve and spaced from the smaller collar portion; and a spring exterior to said sleeve vto surround a portion thereof, said spring interposed between said stop and retainer cap for urging said rotatable Seal ring longitudinally of said lcap toward said stationary seal ring thereby to iiex said diaphragm Portion.

1D. 'A shaft seal comprising a rotatable shaft,

portion snugly seated on said shaft, a larger di- 5f' stationary and vrotatable seal members arranged ameter collar portion surrounding said rotating seal ring and a flexible diaphragm portion lcounecting said collar portions, a metal cup member surroimding said larger diameter collar portion of the sleeve and having an inturned end clampno ing Said 001181' portion to said rotating seal ring said cup member having an inwardly offset shoulder providing a spring abutment surface and a reduced diameter side wall with inturned tangs seated in the slots of the impeller hub, and a a5 spring held under compression between said impeller and said shoulder of the cup memberfor urging said rotating seal ring against the sta,-

` tionary seal ring, said flexible diaphragm portion of the sleeve accommodating relative ax=al move- 70 ment between the rotating seal ring and the shaft while maintaining the seal ring and shaft in sealed relation.

'L In a pump construction a. pump casing delining a shaft well and a stationary seal ring 'l5 cludesarotatableshaftandasealringrotatable in face engagement with each other around said shaft, a flexible sealing sleeve having a reduced collar portion extending longitudinally of said shaft and anchored in sealed relation to said shaft for rotation therewith, said flexible sealing sleeve having an enlarged cylindrical portion also extending longitudinally of said shaft yand embracing the outer face oi' said rotatable seal member, said cylindrical portion being yieldably connected to said collar portion to accommodate longitudinal movement of the rotatable seal member with respect to said shaft, a retainer cup engaged with said cylindrical portion to anchor said portion in sealed relation to the outer face of said rotatable seal member, and means yieldably urging said retainer cup longitudinally of said shaft to effect sliding face engagement between said stationary and rotatable seal members.

l1. In a diaphragm type of shaft seal which intherewith, the improvements of a rubber sealing sleeve comprising an enlarged cylindrical portion of substantial length embracing the cylindrical outer face of saidseal ring and having a welldeined internal lip for engagement in an annular groove in said outer face of said seal ring, a reduced collar portion of substantial length em-` bracing said shaft, and a diaphragm exibly con'- 

